co·op·er·ate
kō-ˈä-pə-ˌrāt 
cooperated; cooperating; cooperates
1
: to act or work with another or others : act together or in compliance
refused to cooperate with the police
2
: to associate with another or others for mutual benefit
nations cooperating to fight terrorism
co·op·er·a·tor
kō-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər
plural -s
1
: one that cooperates:
a
: coworker, colleague, collaborator
the cooperators with whom he worked
b
: one who follows with thoroughness the directions or suggestions of a government, governmental agency, or political party
soil conservation programs gaining more cooperators
2
: a member of a cooperative : an advocate of cooperative principles and practices
Examples of cooperate in a Sentence
Verb
It will be much easier if everyone cooperates.
Several organizations cooperated in the relief efforts.
The country agreed to cooperate with the other nations on the trade agreement.
The mother asked the child to put on his pajamas, but the child refused to cooperate.
Witnesses were willing to cooperate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Even though Omaha police do not cooperate with ICE to enforce immigration, state police do.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 11 June 2026
Multi-generational travel is its own struggle, never mind that the weather may not cooperate.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
Without goodwill, communities fracture under distrust, institutions falter, and nations struggle to cooperate.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cooperate
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Verb
The Israeli military has said Abu Safiya is being investigated on suspicion of cooperating with or working for Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Even though Omaha police do not cooperate with ICE to enforce immigration, state police do.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 11 June 2026
Multi-generational travel is its own struggle, never mind that the weather may not cooperate.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
Without goodwill, communities fracture under distrust, institutions falter, and nations struggle to cooperate.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cooperate
Cite this Entry
“Cooperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cooperate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cooperate
verb
co·op·er·ate
kō-ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt
cooperated; cooperating
: to act, work, or associate with others so as to get something done
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